KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Jack Rice, a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney and former CIA officer, offered a sweeping and often sobering analysis of global affairs and domestic justice issues during a wide-ranging interview Wednesday on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on WKBK Radio.

Mitchell introduced Rice as a longtime friend of the program and a trusted voice on intelligence, military, and legal matters, noting that Rice had frequently appeared on the show over the years through Talk Media News Service and during major global crises. Rice, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, is the founder of Jack Rice Defense and a former prosecutor whose career bridges intelligence work, public service, and high-profile criminal defense.

Early in the conversation, Rice reflected on his international work teaching trial advocacy and rule of law principles in countries emerging from authoritarian systems, including Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Turkey, the Republic of Georgia, and parts of the former Soviet Union. He explained that much of this work grew out of efforts following the collapse of the Soviet Union, when newly independent nations faced the challenge of building legal systems that were not beholden to political leaders.

“The real question was how you create a country people can trust,” Rice said, emphasizing that independent courts and fair legal systems are essential to civil society. Without them, he warned, governments devolve into systems based on loyalty rather than justice.

That theme carried into Rice’s analysis of the war in Ukraine. He stated unequivocally that Russia is the aggressor and criticized peace proposals that would require Ukraine to surrender territory, forgo NATO membership, or limit its own military. Rice likened those ideas to asking the United States to give up half its territory after an invasion and said such proposals only encourage further aggression.

He explained that European nations’ fear is rooted in history and current Russian actions across the continent, describing Moscow’s behavior as intentionally reminiscent of Soviet-era expansion. Rice argued that a credible peace would require firm, consistent positions from the United States and NATO—something he said has been lacking.

The conversation then shifted to the Middle East, where Rice expressed deep pessimism about the durability of any ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He described decades of displacement, loss of rights, and extremism that have left Palestinians without meaningful protections, while also acknowledging Israel’s right to survive amid existential threats.

Rice offered a blunt assessment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a political survivor whose longevity complicates peace efforts. Drawing on his own experience in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Rice said U.S. support for Israel often conflates American and Israeli interests, which are not always the same.

In discussing Iran, Rice criticized U.S. rhetoric supporting protesters while failing to back words with action. He cited past examples, including the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia, where American promises proved hollow. Such inconsistency, Rice said, erodes U.S. credibility and undermines long-term strategic interests.

That critique extended to U.S. relationships with Saudi Arabia, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Rice pointed to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and longstanding philosophical differences as reasons to question whether the alliance truly benefits the United States. He urged Americans to weigh the real costs of such partnerships rather than accept them as inevitable.

On U.S. foreign aid, Rice echoed arguments often made by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, saying programs like USAID provide far greater security returns than military interventions at a fraction of the cost. He described foreign aid as a strategic investment that helps prevent instability before it requires bombs and troops.

Rice also addressed intelligence operations in Venezuela, calling the extraction of President Nicolás Maduro a technical success but warning of the long-term consequences of unilateral regime change. He contrasted short-term operational victories with broader credibility problems, especially when U.S. actions appear inconsistent or self-serving.

The interview took a sharp turn back to Minnesota, where Rice described a city still deeply scarred by the killing of George Floyd and now facing renewed trauma. He detailed a recent incident in which a federal officer shot and killed a woman during an ICE operation, followed by what he described as an overwhelming and militarized federal presence in Minneapolis.

Rice said thousands of ICE agents are now operating in the city—far more than local law enforcement—and likened the atmosphere to conflict zones he had experienced abroad. He also referenced the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and others, describing a climate of fear and instability.

From a legal perspective, Rice raised serious concerns about the federal government taking exclusive control of the investigation, excluding state authorities. He said such actions are highly unusual and undermine transparency. He also noted the mass resignation of senior Department of Justice officials in Minnesota, which he attributed to political pressure and interference.

“The Department of Justice is not supposed to act as a defense attorney for its own,” Rice said, arguing that the federal government’s posture has damaged public trust.

In a striking conclusion, Rice said the erosion of rule of law in the United States has cost the country its moral authority abroad. He said he no longer feels credible teaching legal principles overseas when similar abuses now appear at home.

“I’ve spent years telling other countries not to do this,” Rice said. “Now they look at us and say, ‘Have you looked around your own country?’”

Throughout the interview, Rice returned repeatedly to the same warning: when justice systems lose independence and credibility, societies begin to fracture. For Rice, the lessons he once taught overseas now feel uncomfortably close to home.

Listen to the full interview: